30 comments:

I wish I could think of a better way to say it, but Frazetta seems to have a beautiful balance/contrast of detail and broader forms.

And while I'm thinking about contrast, John, you wrote something a couple weeks ago in the middle of a big rant about how everything needs contrast, and it was kindof an epiphany for me. I think I know what you're going to say about writing cartoon dialogue, whenever you get there. Anyway, thanks. Hope you land a sponsor.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

Thanks, John. Just signed up for a year membership at the Cartoon Retro site. The pictures and history of the artists are very helpful. Maybe you should have a site like that to teach us armatures about cartoons. $50.00 a year or even a $100.00 a year would be worth the knowledge you could give us. Like a correspondence coarse. Spumco Universtiy.

It seems Kurtzman likes to use a lot of pure black to provide contrast in his compositions ( from what I've seen on this blog ).To be honest I get a little lost in Kirby's illustrations - but they're so solidly drawn my attention for it remains.

I was wondering - when you say copy, John, do you encourage the "old" tools of copying e.g. - proportional site measurement, griding ect. or should it be sheer eyeballing it and then comparing it on photoshop?I know some animators are "against" site measurement when it comes to copying - many prefer to keep their eye and pencil moving. I was wondering what your opinion is on this.

Also, I'm not sure what to think of this but speaking of copying, look at what this student did :

Love this posting!!! Have a question about pass posts you've made, John. I'd like to read your past posts from previous months (since I've just found your blog) BUT each of the months you have in the "blog history" section come up "not on this blog" when I click them. Are your past blogs not available, is there something I'm not doing right, or is there something wrong with this site? If you have (or anyone else has) the answer for me, I'd sure appreciate being able to read your past blog postings!

/\/\ikeB, I suspect the reason you "get lost" in Kirby drawings is that he gives nearly equal graphic weight to all his figures, background elements and detailing. This isn't as extreme as Herge's "clear line" drawing, but it's nearly the American superhero comics equivalent. Kirby didn't use blacks and tonal techniques in the extreme way of Wally Wood, Eisner or his hero Milton Caniff did. I mean, he obviously did to a degree, and it depended on who was inking him, but very generally, Kirby's compositions aren't as "heavy". He uses that famous dynamism, and guiding lines in forms to put your eyes in the right place.

BUT - and this is just my theory... Where Herge used tasteful, muted, natural colors to help the eye discern objects and characters, sometimes American comics coloring styles make the drawings confusing or ugly. You can see this stuff more clearly when Kirby is reproduced in black and white.

Wow! Your blog seems to really be having an effect on peoples taste. Suddenly all these animation geeks who willfully ignored the good stuff for years seem to actually know about a couple decent artists. A while ago people out of the blue who I would rarely talk about art with were sending me emails about things like how great Golden Book illustrations are (duh!), or as in just now, someone who 11 years ago used to tell me Mcfarlane (not of hockey fame) was God and Jack Kirby really sucked is giving me lectures about the genius of the King like I never heard of the guy.Sure enough, I check your blog and hell if whatever they are parroting to me like it is their common knowlege is what your lecture of the day is.I was wondering what was going on a while back with all these sudden converts then someone sent me a link to your blog and it all made sense.Use your power wisely and not for evil.If you for instance say acid wash jeans are cool there would be a stampeed heading down to the hardware store for some CLR....or just be diggin into their closets.